You probably didn't notice because we're all consumed with COVID-19, but there was a mass shooting in Nova Scotia a couple of weeks ago. A guy who made dentures for a living (when he wasn't going on murderous rampages) killed 22 people over 13 hours by impersonating a police officer and using illegally purchased semiautomatic weapons. He easily surpassed the death toll at Montreal's Ecole Polytechnique in 1989.
And just like that, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has banned assault weapons in Canada. Effective immediately.
"These weapons were designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to kill the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time," he said. "There is no use and no place for such weapons in Canada."
It's just the latest example of a world leader taking swift action to ban guns after a mass killing. New Zealand, led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, did the same thing after 51 people were murdered at mosques in Christchurch last year.
Feeling jealous? We don't blame you. It's depressing to see our friends and allies acting sensibly — especially a mere day after Trumpy anti-stay-at-home protesters stormed the Michigan state capitol with assault weapons and called for Governor Gretchen Whitmer's execution. Canadians on social media are mystified. Why would someone be allowed to bring a semiautomatic weapon onto government property?
We're baffled, too. But the images from Lansing yesterday aren't going to boost Donald Trump's or any other Republican's fortunes in November. Not just because the protesters were repulsive, but because most Americans think they're wrong. We cats PURR.
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